Gear finishing machine



May 26, 1953 F. E. MQMULLEN ET AL 2,639,557

' GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HG FREDERICK E. MoMULLEN YTHEODORE H. PECK QMMW ATTORNEY y 53 F. E. MCMULLEN ETAL 2,639,557

GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 2 3 FIG. 2

FIG. 6

FIG. 5 x

-l r -F LU ml!- g as ERICK HEIAIQVEMNSEISEN FRED c YTHEODORE H. PECK I ATTORNEY y 26, 1953 F. E. MOMULLEN ETAL 2,639,557

GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 O4 VIII/[Inn 'INVENTORS FREDERICK E. McMULLEN THEODORE H. PECK' BY- FIG. 3

' ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 F. E. MOMULLE'ZN ETAL 2,639,557

GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I05 52 FIG? f' INVENTORS FREDERICK E. McMULLEN THEODORE H. PECK ATTORNEY May 26, 1953 F. E. MCMULLEN ETAL 2,639,557

GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1951 e Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS FREDERICK E. MGMULLEN Y TH EODORE H. PECK ama d). M

A TTORNEY y 1953 F. E. MOMULLE'N ETAL 2,639,557

GEAR FINISHING MACHINE,

Filed Aug. 24, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 T0 In INVENTORS FREDERICK E. McMULLEN THEODORE H. PEQK ATTORNEY Patented May 26, I953 GEAR FINISHING MACHINE Frederick E. McMullen, Rochester, and Theodore H. Peck, Irondequoit, N. Y., assignors to The Gleason Works, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 24, 1951, Serial No. 243,402

' 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved machine for finishing gears, particularly bevel and hypoid gears, by lapping or burnishing. In general the machine is an improvement upon that disclosed in the L. E. Turner et a1. Patent No. 2,445,649, granted July 20, 1948.

In lapping or burnishing (hereinafter for convenience referred to simply as lapping) bevel or hypoid gears according to that patent, the gears are mounted to rotate in mesh on horizontal axes, and while so rotating are moved bodily relative to each other in three mutually perpendicular directions, these being (1) vertically, (2) horizontally along the pinion axis, and (3) horizontally transverse of the pinion axis. The signs and amounts of these motions are so chosen that the gears move relatively between two terminal positions of mesh in one of which the tooth bearing or contact area is at one end of the tooth and in the other of which it is at the opposite end of the tooth. This has the result that during the finishing operation substantially the entire working areas of the teeth are lapped. Between the two terminal positions is the position in which the gears are expected to run in actual use, and for convenience this position will be referred to as the mean. position of mesh, although ordinarily it will not be midway between the terminal positions.

In operation of the patented machine one side of the gear teeth is first lapped, and then automatically the direction of rotation of the gears is reversed and the other side of the teeth is lapped. Adjustments are provided on the machine whereby the relative vertical motion of the gears above and below the mean position can be of any desired. amount in lapping each side of the teeth. However the horizontal motions are derived by cams from the vertical motion and hence the proportion of the horizontal motions to the vertical motions above and below the mean position must be the same for both sides of the teeth. Thus the resultants of the relative bodily motions (in three directions) of the gears must be in the same directions for lapping both sides although the magnitude of such resultants may be different for the two sides.

It has been found that in most bevel and hypoid gear mountings there is a substantial change in relative position of the gears when the hand of drive through them is reversed, the change referred to being due to clearance in mounting bearings and to like causes, and being additional to positional changes accounted for by deflection of the mountings under load. The change referred to results in there being a different mean position of mesh of the gears when the drive is on one side of the teeth than when it is on the other side. It has also been found that the same proportions of horizontal motions to vertical motions are satisfactory for lapping both sides of the teeth provided that such motions are from two mean positions that are respectively appropriate for the two sides, but such satisfactory results cannot always be obtained when both sides are lapped with the machine adjusted for a single mean position. Where satisfactory results cannot be obtained by automatic operation of the machine, the operator must disable the automatic control mechanism, and, between lapping of the opposite sides, stop the machine and make machine adjustments that will bring the gears to a different mean position of mesh. This of course is not only expensive in terms of time consumed but is likely to be a source of operator error which may lead to spoiled gears.

The present invention provides a set-over mechanism whereby after one side of the teeth has been lapped the gears may be shifted, prefer- I ably automatically, to a mean position of mesh suitable for lapping the other side. The set over means preferably includes three pistons, of which there is one for shifting the gears relatively in each of the aforementioned mutually perpendicular directions, and a hydraulic system adapted to operate the pistons simultaneously. Manually operable reversing valve means are provided whereby the directions of motion of pistons may be reversed relative to one another. Also means are provided to adjust the stroke of each piston. By such reversal and stroke adjustments the sign and amount of set-over movement in each of the three mutually perpendicular directions may be determined.

The invention may be applied advantageously to machines having a mechanism for providing a predetermined initial amount of backlash between the gears being lapped, as for example that disclosed in application Serial No. 6,005, filed February 3, 1948, by O. F. Bauer, now Patent No. 2,582,408, granted January 15, 1952. In using this mechanism, the spindle carrying one of the gears is withdrawn (in the direction of the axis of the mating gear) to permit the gears to be chucked. After chucking the spindle is first advanced to bring the gears into metal-to-metal contact, and the mechanism is then actuated to withdraw the spindle by a predetermined amount, thus providing a predetermined amount of backlash. Th spindle is then locked in this position.

In the machine of the present invention, the backlash establishing mechanism is preferably applied to the spindle which supports the pinion member of the gear pair being lapped, and the lapping motions (in the three different directions referred to hereinbefore) are applied to the spindle which supports the gear member of the pair. During the lapping of one side of the teeth a certain amonnt of stock is removed with the result that the backlash becomes greater than that established by the above mentioned mechanism. The set over mechanism of the present invention may be employed to advance the gear, along its axis, to reestablish the original amount of backlash (or to provide whatever other amount of backlash may he wanted) before the other side of the teeth is lapped.

The machine further includes improvements in the system for containing and circulating lapping compound, including means for preventing escape of the compound from the chamber in which the gears are lapped. For the latter purpose a vertically sliding door for the chamber is provided, the door carrying a nozzle for directing compound onto the gears when the door is closed.

The compound, in liquid suspension, drains into a sump beneath the chamber, and is pumped from the sump to the nozzle through a flexible conduit. The consistency of the compound is kept uniform by means of an agitator in the sump, but when the machine is not running the solid matter gradually settles. It has been found that if such solid matter is allowed to gather in the pump inlet, it may clog the pump and prevent it from starting. In order to obviate this condition, while at the same time retaining the ad vantage of connecting the pump inlet to the sump at a level close to the bottom of the sump, the pump inlet passage is arranged to comprise a trap which prevents ingress of the settled material into the pump interior except when the pump is operating.

In addition to the vertically movable door there is an auxiliary gravity closed door hinged on a horizontal axis and serving when closed as the top wall of the chamber. A single hydraulically operated piston is arranged to effect operation of both doors, being connected by a pivoted link to the auxiliary door, and to the vertically movable door by means comprising two racks and intermediate pinions. One rack is carried by the piston, the other by the door, and the pinions are so proportioned that the stroke of the piston is substantially shorter than the travel of the door. ton to the auxiliary door comprises two parts having a play connection so that lowering of the piston does not necessarily close the auxiliary door, this arrangement being employed as a safety measure.

A means is also provided to prevent operation of the main drive motor of the machine, which rotates the gears being lapped, unless and until the doors are closed. For this purpose a limit switch in the control circuit of the operating motor is arranged to prevent motor operation whenever the piston is away from its door-closed limit position. Means are provided to automatically operate the piston to door-opening position after the main drive motor has stopped at the conclusion of the lapping operation.

This stopping preferably is effected automatically by sequence control means which acts first to stop the supply of lapping compound to the gears, then after a predetermined time lag to The pivoted link which connects the pisell) discontinue drive of the gears, and then, after another predetermined time lag, to open the doors. The first time lag preferably is of such duration as to alloa compound on the gears to be thrown from them by centrifugal action before their rotation is stopped, and the second lag is preferably sufficient to allow the gears to come to a standstill by the time they become accessible to the operator as a result of opening of the doors.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of the machine shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of the whole machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l and shows the piston for setting over horizontally in the direction of the axis of the gear-supporting spindle;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 2, and shows the piston for setting over horizontally in the direction of the axis of the pinion-supporting spindle and also the piston for setting over vertically;

Fig. l is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken as indicated by line 5-5 of Fig. 2, showing the structure in which the gear-supporting spindle is mounted;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 3;

'7 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from the direction indicated by T1 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away to show the sump for lapping compound and the traps in the passage between the sump and the inlet of the lapping compound circulating pump;

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail vertical sectional views taken respectively along lines 8 8 and 9--9 of Figs. 1 and 8, respectively, and show the door actuating means;

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional View taken along line l(ll0 of Fig. 9 to show the limit switch switch operated by the door actuating means;

Fig. 11 is a diagram indicating one way in which the electrical system of the machine may be wired; and,

Fig. 12 is a diagram of that part of the machines hydraulic control system with which the invention is concerned.

As shown in Fig. 1 the machine includes a bed 2! upon which a drive head 24 is mounted for movement in the horizontal direction indicated by arrow 23. The pinion and gear to be lapped are designated P and G, respectively, the pinion being chucked upon a spindle journaled for rotation in the head 24. The head may be adjusted upon the bed 2! in thedirection of arrow 23, by means including handwheel 22; such adjustment being employed to move the pinion horizontally, transversely of its axis, into the desired position of mesh with the gear G. Suitable means controlled by a lever 25 serves to move the head upon the bed, also in the direction of arrow 23, to withdraw the head from such adjusted position for the purpose of chucking amide-chucking the pinion and gear, and to advance the head toward such adjustedposition. Final advance of the head, to mesh the pinion with the gear, is efiected by manual operation of a jogger valve 26. Backlash of the desired amount between gears P and-G may be obtained by manualoperation of lever 25 conjointly with operation of levers 21 which control mechanism thatretracts the pinion relative to head 24 (also in the direc-.

tion of arrow 23) by a given amount after the head has been advanced to bring the gears into metal-to-metal mesh. The mechanism for effecting this backlash setting is essentially as shown in the aforementioned patent application Serial No. 6005.

A column 28 is adjustable horizontally on bed 2| in the direction of arrow 29 by means which include handwheel 30. The spindle upon which the gear G is chucked is journalled (by means hereinafter described in detail) in a head 3| which is movable vertically upon the column. Head 3| is adjustable vertically relative to the column 28 to vary the ofiset between the axes of the gears P and G, while by the means including handwheels 22 and 30 the gears may be adjusted along their respective axes to whatever mean position of mesh is desired. After the gears have been brought to such position they may be rotated first in one direction and then in the other by a suitable reversible main drive motor that is connected to the pinion spindle, and load may be applied to the gears by suitable braking means 32 or by a generator connected with the gear spindle. While the gears are rotating the head 3| is oscillated through a small amplitude vertically, and simultaneously the gear spindle is oscillated laterally (in the direction of arrow 29) and also axially (the direction of arrow 23) through small amplitudes to effect the lapping over the entire working face of each gear tooth. The lapping compound is directed upon the rotating gears from a nozzle designated 33.

The gear spindle, designated 34, is supported by means which will now be described with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 5. As shown the spindle is mounted in anti-friction bearings in a housing 35 which is pivotally connected to the head 3| by a pin 36. This mounting enables the lateral oscillatory and set over motions of a spindle 34 which have previously been referred to: While these motions are theoretically arcuate because of the pivotal mounting of the housing, they are of such small amplitude in relation to the center distance between the spindle and pin 36 that for practical purposes they may be considered to be rectilinear.

The housing 35 is supported on pin 36 by a sleeve bearing 3'! which enables oscillation of the housing and the spindle, as a unit, in the direction of arrow 23, which, as shown, is axial of the spindle. The head 3| carries two sets of rollers, 38 and 39, which engage upright ways 4| on the column 28 to thereby guide the head for vertical adjustment, and also for vertical oscillating and set over motions. The head also carries rollers 42 which engage an eccentric 43 and are disposed above and below the latter. The eccentric is secured to a horizontal shaft 44 journalled in a bracket 45 which is arranged to slide vertically within the column 28, being guided therein between opposed surfaces 46 on the column. Further guidance is provided by engagement of rollers 41, carried by the bracket, with vertical ways 48 on the column.

The bracket 45 has a nut that is threaded to an adjusting screw 5| whose upper end is supported by the column 28. A graduated dial 52 is secured to the screw, and by turning the screw through a selected angle shown by the graduations on the dial the operator may adjust the bracket up or down by a desired amount. By reason of the eccentric 43 and rollers 42, the head 3| will of course be raised or lowered by the same amount, the eccentric 43 not being rotated while such adjustment is made. By the adjustment the 6 axes of the gear G and pinion P may be ofiset as desired.

The means for effecting oscillations of the spindle 34 vertically and horizontally will now be described. Mounted on the bracket 45 is a reversible electric motor 53, hereinafter sometimes called the oscillating motor, which, through a planetary gear high-reduction unit, slowly rotates the shaft 44. This, through operation of eccentric 43 and rollers 42 slowly oscillates the head 3| (and the spindle 34) vertically. The planetary gear reduction unit includes a planet pinion 54 meshing with internal gears 55 and 56 having a small difierence in tooth numbers. Gears 55 and 56 are coaxial, gear 55 being fixed to bracket 45 and gear 56 being fixed to a pinion 51. The latter is arranged to drive a gear 58 which is affixed to spindle 44. The planet pinion 54 is carried by a hub that is coaxial with gears 55 and 56; and the hub has integral therewith av gear 59 that is driven by a pinion 6| on the shaft. of motor 53. In the particular machine that is. illustrated the gearing just described provides. an overall reduction from motor to spindle of over 2600 to 1.

The eccentric 43 is oscillated back and forth. by motor 53, being rotated thereby for only a. fraction of a revolution in one direction, then. being rotated for a fraction of a revolution in. the other direction, and so on. The amount of motion of the cam to either side of its on-center position (which corresponds to the mean position of mesh of the gears P and G) determines the magnitude of the above-center and below-center vertical motions of the spindle.v This amount of motion of the cam is controlled by a reversing switch mechanism, designated 62, which is operated by shaft 44 and serves to control the reversing of motor 53.- The mechanism 62 is provided with four independent adjustments by which the vertical movements above and below on-center position can be set independently to whatever values are desired for lapping each of the opposite sides of the gear teeth. The switch mechanism is like that shown in Fig. 8 of the aforementioned Patent 2,445,649 and is not novel with the present invention.

The means whereby vertical oscillation of the head 3| imparts horizontal motion to the spindle 34 in the direction of the pinion axis (the direction of arrow 29) includes a graduated cam 63 mounted for angular adjustment on housing 35. The cam has a plane face 64 engaged by a roller 65. The roller is carried by a cylinder 66 which is mounted to reciprocate upon the rod of a piston 61. The piston rod is pivoted by a pin 63 to an extension of bracket 45, and by a pin 63 is pivoted to a link The latter is pivoted and by a pin 12 to head 3|. Assuming the piston and cylinder to be stationary relative to each other (as they are in fact during lapping operation) and the cam face 64 to be adjusted to the inclination shown in Fig. 4, it will be seen from Fig. 3 that as the head 3| moves downwardly relative to bracket 45 (that is as pins 12 and 69 lower relative to pin 66) the roller 65 will be swung upwardly, moving the cam 63, housing 35, and spindle 34, to the right in Figs. 3 and 4 and to the left in Fig. l in the direction of the pinion axis (arrow 29). Conversely when the head 3| rises relative to bracket 45 the spindle 34 will be moved in the opposite direction, for the plane cam face 64 is held constantly against the roller 65 by a spring means shown in Fig. 5 which applies a counterclockwise torque to housing 35 motions of the 's pindle."

lower part ofa-tWowart-piston 103; 1 -This piston 2 ass s s? be To cked for thepurpose of installing ohucking pnei eiid o'f lever 81 is pivctally coniiecte'dby ar iotliei pih sets the lOd O'fa pistoh wlthalt' ls arranged for horizontal reciprocation cylinuse 85-afii$ ed tofthe h'ea'd 3|". -Tlie free and of hoi 'fzontal leve'r 1'8 care-res two r ollers designstted Q tafid lilfwhiclr havespherioal 'out'er su aces adapter? to contactfresnectively, plane ea surfaces-BF ea es-of angularly 'ad justable oams9! 5 and "92. -"The latte'i helv'e Shafts 93 that are inetinted -f'er i-otation -ih the spindle housing .3 3

shine "S1 "to provided 'rge the housing J. his means mpriees "-a' compression spring 96 3 \vfh iehfhbts 'tim' lll'ha plliflg el 91"50 exert-piessure "on a H6; aontal l r98. Theleveris-fulei'ui'n'ed on head-3'4- abi'n BS and oarriesra roller lfiythatfri'des on a uide plate I 'rovi'ded on the housing 35? T v It will be seen that as the head is moved up and down wthteswatm 'r'rrotor operated cam the upright'linl 15 whos'e' lower end is pinned to oscillate the-housing 35 and thspindle td in a direction aXi'al'of the spindle(inthedirec;

'tion of"ar1ow* 23)':f During-motion of the head "35 above "its on-center" position the roller-*8! coacts with the-eam ez bntthe-travel ofthe roller 88 is below the baiz 9i and henceha's-no effect.

- Similarly, (hiring inotion ofthehead' 3| below its on-cent'enpo's'iti'o'ntlre roller-81 and cam 92 are inefiective; but 'theroller 86- and cam 9i 'coact; Because of 'this" and the fact that the cams 9 i and 92 areadjustable independently, the

" sign and magnitude 'of-the 'axiahmotio'n o-f spindle.

' may be adius-ted indenendently iiopnthecra 'spe'ctive above-c'enter and below center vertical Therneans 'fo effecting set over between laping meopposn v dscribedu Referring to Fig.=3, the-"sc'rew 51 has asho'ulder" Hm' iesting on-the upperrace of an anti-friction beai lng which turnrests on the to "stationary br-acl fet 45; will swing the horizontal ides of the gears-will now beoperates in a cylinder [04 mounted on the column 628 and; is; keyed; agaiirst'zrqtation re wii fio llx h y r. t-The uppemp rtrof;th tpist r fiQlQW threaded to. ::a-..=piston;1strol;e-' adjustin 111502 9 5 wwhichr-xmay zbecsecured'rto; thBa'DiSEQD by; l

. screw 1116.5. bThe graduated vertical; adjustment dial 52 is also secured to the piston, by; aset oscrew l-OttWhile one sideof theggears is, being lapped: theiadjusting disc oi 05;.rests; o l-the end :;p1ate m8; of. the'cylirtder X04; which bears the :weight; of the piston: l 0,3, the screw ;,5 1:, the bracket .45 and the bracket supportedxmechanism includiingchead- 3 l ,5 housing. 35; and spindle 3,4. liefore othe other: side of the", gears ;;is; lapped hydraulic wipressure isrrapplie'cr against the; bottom; :Of; v :the

piston; elevating: the: latter until-. i @93 15i face .abuts against thewtmderside; 0f| plate i 08, :and therebyt verticallly setszover the;b1zacl:et;45 -tand.spindle 3t) 1 to anotherpositiom: Itwill be understood that ,the;stroke of p on aney. be

-..:varied;:by looseningthe; set; screw l 6,6; a'icl then :turning the adjusting disc-rwficupoi the. screw- .threadedupperz'part ofpthe-piston Hi3. it

Simultaneously-3iwithi theqvertical set over,

transverse-horizontal set over of the gear spindle 1.34 5(111! thedireotion ofzarrow za);amay beefiectecl by; reversingvhydraulic; pressure and return con- ,nections to .ODDQSlt9r1 ends of. cylinder i53 -;thep. eby effecting, movement 10f the cylinde r; :and of the rollerfiE carried by thegcylinder -relative to p ston 81;.- Such-motion of the roller isefiective through a thezcam fitzcarried by housing fifi tp set overrthe spindle in .the direction-of, arrow, 29- The inasnitude of this'set over may bev-varied by; turnin =a=screw 109 that is threaded into the head of cylindee 68 'for abutmentwith piston .fil to I T thereby limitthe relative motion'ot the cylinder anslpiston: As shown in- Fi-g.-3',- the screw we 1 a: graduated diaLto.facilitate accurate adjustment, and arset screw isprovidedto look screw 109 in'adjustedepositions- Also-simultaneouslywith the vertical set over, thespindleeihi may b.St OV l;1Z ia11y (in, the I direction of arrow 223) by reversing .the hydraulic pressureand return connections to the. opposite ends. ofwcylinderlifitftherebyv shifting piston 84 and: rocking. lever. 8i about its. \ful crum.8,2, with the result that lever. "38 and ther llers-SG and ii! carried. byoitareshifited in a direction axially hof-thespindle... Through the effectof the spring 96-and carneQl andS Z this shitting ofjfihe rollers hoauses axial set overof thehousin 35 of 4.l the.spindle.,v .Thev stroke ,of sideset over isadjust- .ahlebm-ineans of. a screw -l.l.l which. limits the ..stroke GfwDiStOIlflfl. .Like the. adjustin screw/.109,

,the screw it Lis provided.witllegraduatedj dial and a locking. set.scre\v.. l

During. the lapping operation the gears P and G are Jen closedina chamber which has, as one side owallga. verticallydisposed door .i2 on which the lapping .com-poundnozzle 33 is mounted. The ...:door isarranged to slidelvertically on, two guide 'rod-s H3 -(Qn1y oneof whichlisshowninFi s. 7, M8, and 9) seoured to the .machine. bed Zi -and to a member H4 that is mounted on the fixed wall structure Hiof. the chamber. .1; W hen lowered the .mdooropensto provideaccess-to thegearsand to i carry the-nozzlefi to,.a..positi 0n.wherein it cannot direct lapping compound onto the gears, The

m-upper wallof the chamber includes an. auxiliary wdoor -l i6 swhicheis-hinged .to the. fixed structure ....-.I IS. on a horizontalaxis, the hinge connection comprising .hinge pins. ll-lsecured to.,the .door. WAS.- shown. the auxiliary door. is. horizontal when sclosed; andlassumes a nearly upright position when opened to further provide access to the lapping chamber.

For operating the doors there is provided a hydraulically operated piston II8 Vertically movable in a stationary cylinder I I9. The lower end of the piston rod constitutes a rack I2I meshing with a pinion I22 that is mounted for rotation upon the fixed structure II5. A larger pinion I23, rotatable as a unit with the pinion I22, meshes with a rack I24 provided on door II2. This arrangement is such that as the piston is raised and lowered between its limit positions, the door H2 is respectively lowered and raised through the much longer travel necessary to open and close it.

The upper end of the piston rod is pivoted at I25 to a connecting rod I26 that in turn is pivoted at I2! to a crank arm I28 keyed to one of the hinge pins 1. As shown, the connecting rod I26 is made of two telescoping sections. Upon upward motion of the piston H8, the crank arm I28 is rotated (clockwise in Fig. 8) as a unit with the auxiliary door I I6, opening the latter. Upon downward motion of the piston, the auxiliary door is allowed to lower by gravity, but because of the play connection provided by the telescoping sections of rod I26 the door is not positively closed by down motion of the piston. The play connection thus constitutes a safety means which may prevent possible serious injury to the machine operator should his arm or hand be in the path of the closing door.

The door actuating mechanism controls the normally open two pole limit switch I29, shown in Fig. 10, which is arranged in the electrical control system of the machine. The stem of the switch is moved inwardly, to close the switch, by and upon counterclockwise motion of a pivoted lever I3I. The upper end of the lever is engaged and moved counterclockwise by a finger I32 as the latter moves clockwise. The finger is mounted to rotate as a unit with the pinions I22 and I23, and. is arranged to close the switch I29 as the doors H2 and H6 reach their closed positions. Light springs I33 serve to hold the lever I3I in its neutral (switch open) position when it is not engaged by finger I32.

Beneath the lapping chamber is a sump I34 for containing the lapping compound, which ordinarily consists of finely divided abrasive material in liquid suspension. To maintain the material well distributed in the liquid during machine operation, there is mounted in the sump an agitator comprising paddle wheels E35 mounted upon a rotatable shaft I35. This shaft is rotated by the main drive motor through. suitable drive means within a drive housing I31.

The lapping compound is drawn from the bottom of the sump into the inlet of a pump I38 driven by a motor #39. From the pump outlet the compound is forced through tubing I ll and I42, and nozzle 33 onto the gears P and G. The section M2 of the tubing is flexible to accommodate the opening and closing of the door II2 on which the nozzle 33 is mounted. The nozzle itself is preferably made up of articulated sections in order that the operator may easily aim it to direct the lapping compound on gears P and G of any size that may be placed on the machine. A trap M3, arranged in passage I44 between the sump and the pump inlet, serves to prevent entrance into the pump of abrasive material that may settle out of the lapping compound while the pump motor and the main drive motor of the machine are not operating, as for example while the machine is standing idle over night.

Suitable seals are provided to prevent the lapping compound from entering the working parts of the machine. For example, bellows-like rubber seals I44 are provided to protect the ways on which the heads 24 and 2B are adjustable, and rubber diaphragms I45 to prevent the compound from passing out of the lapping chamber around the spindles that support the gears P and G.

The hydraulic control system for the set over mechanism will now be described with reference to the hydraulic diagram, and to Figs. 2, 3, and 8. The system includes a sump I5! for hydraulic fluid, a pump I52 operated by a motor I53 for applying the fluid under pressure to the vertical set over cylinder I04 (Fig. 3), the transverse horizontal set over cylinder 66 (Fig. 3), and the axial horizontal set over cylinder (Fig. 2). This application of pressure to the set over cylinders is controlled by an automatically operated solenoid actuated reversing valve I55 and manually set reversing valves I55 and I55. Pressure is also applied from the pump I52 to the door actuating cylinder I I9 (Figs. 8 and 9), being controlled automatically by a solenoid actuated reversing valve I51.

The condition shown in Fig. 12 is that solenoid I50 has been energized while solenoid I58 has been deenergized (the solenoids being of the repulsion type), so that the valve I5 1 has been moved to its left limit position and thereby connects pressure line IGI with line I52 and connecting exhaust line I53 (which returns to the sump) with line I6 3. Lines I02 and I54 communicate respectively with the right and left ends of cylinder 55, so that the latter is retained in its right limit position relative to its stationary piston 67. Valve I55 has been manually moved to the left, and so connects line I62 with a line I65 communicating with the right end of cylinder 35; and also connects line I64 with a line I06 leading to the left endof cylinder 85. Therefore piston 84 is held in its left limit position. Valve I55 has also been manually moved to the left, thus connecting line I52 with a line Ifi'l to the bottom of cylinder l04, thus holding the piston I03 in its upper limit position.

When the solenoid I50 is ole-energized and solenoid I58 is energized, thereby moving valve I54 to its right limit position; the line I52 is connected, via valve passage I09 with return line I53, and line IE4 is connected with pressure line IliI. As a result the cylinder 66 will be set over to the left, piston 80, will be set over to the right, and piston I03 will be set over downwardly by the weight ofthe parts it supports.

By manually shifting valve I55 to its right limit position the connections of lines I62 and I64 with lines I65 and I66 are reversed, I52 being brought into communication with I06, and I04 connecting with IE5 through valve passage I'II. As a result the direction of set over of piston 84 will be reversed relative to that of the cylinder 66. Similarly by'manually shifting the valve I50 to its right limit position the line IS'I is connected. through valve passage IIZ with line I55, so that the position of set over of piston I03 is reversed with respect to that of cylinder 56.

The valve I5? is brought to the position shown inFig. 12 by energization of solenoid I'M and deenergization of solenoid I13. In this position pressure line I6I is connected with a line I15 that extends to the lower end of door actuator cylinder H9, and return line I53 is connected ti-oned Patent No. anaeieahqto i ui dnss repetition of the disclosure oi the c rolsystel'n,

Fig. 11 shows in light lines thefidentical wiring diagram shown as ;Fig.,,l8- \o f said patent! Hon; nections omitted in the present machine' 'from what is vshown in the patent are indicated} Fig. llfby light dash-dot lines, while the connections and I apparatus new with thepresent, disclosure are shown by heavylines Q t As shown in Fig. 11 thesolenoids I 5 8"'and I59 are connected, between main leads L1 andg' zfof a three wire source'of, electricity in parallel with the reverse and forwardwindings [I1 2 and, I8 3 of the controller i-fl l ttor the main driye motor- I85, I the. connec,tions including a m'anuall y I operated reversingswitch L88. ,,With the position foi jthe switch that; is shown, the solenoid ,I 5B I-i" it???- gized simultaneously with coil, I andijso lno'id .159 .with I 83, but by reversal ofswi'toh l'sjquum g the set;- up of the machine solenoid I584 willijbe energizedsimultaneouslyyvi th c0il I413, and sole} noid-.,,I59 simultaneously .;with,coil i fIfhi s enables reversal of the direc t oftthe tita 'v'ers'e horizontaltset over .-,(by :cylinder qfl relative. to

the ,directionof rotation tof the main drive meter.

1.1 .The, lap in compound pumping motor I39 has ascontroller I8] which when energized am the-motortotnem inleaQs uLa-an, -v 0.011 as welcome-911a is eo ie eie giasj i s "w start switch button I89 in a circuit betwenleads L1 and L2 softb t 'tkbu I pressed the motor I39 will s t rt' relay. 11:89,; which when .ener shunt circuit around .tl e'star I N y l I energizedduring-the lapping cycle offthein achine, and de energiaed at th e" conlusio the cycle as a result of the switch arm |9I closing a ainst the con entat s at n-sNQ T 9,91 atche I I yI L i 171;, 1 The doorcontrolling solenoids ljt and I4 subject to control by relays mgq 191,; an and the main motor l 85- and the oscillating'motor 53 are subjectrto control hy relays 'lj fl ,and";l95 and limit switch I29 il f 1 connected in parallell I I I i1 f,hold irig"r lay I89and henceremains ,enel dthroughout elapp ns e qle aeia gii 'a merelay priv-marily for controlling 4 h .--Iwl1ich wh n ene z d p .at la a dhen r' a t rra. ete 'm i i e l I is. also of this general type and when I937 rid [lgkin such In at. hard st ts s"s er i eeie i s nne of relay I94 is closed (when relay I94 has been de-energized for a time).

'trollei when nected across leads in and Lz fin "series with a Contact ofrelay I site as to be energized wheneyer'the'lattefis energized, The coil of relay I94 ise h lcpei across le (is Li'andLz inseries with I96 of the spin time relay I95, and hence giz e d lwiien thiellatter'is h The upper' m'ovable contactof limit switch I29 is connected between leads L1 and L; in series Wit ontact I95 'of relay I95 and, through a switch'arm offrelay I99, with a winding of motor controller I84 which are reversed by relay I99. Ilie' "low er movable contact of: limit switch I29'is connected between leads L1 andlli in series with a switch arm of reversing relay l 99 and a winding o i cont jollerji ll f orlos cillating 53; {Jontroller 29I as; f or'ward and reverse windings 293 a" d izt ilwhicli are alternately energized by the I99: under the control oi the" reversing switchmecha'nism"62 1 It will be noted that the branch circuits including c ')ntact"'I96 and limit switch I39 replace connections" (here designated 2922i ithe circuitoi l atent ea-45549;" Before alappiid'g' operation is commenced, the gears land iG'alre mounted andthe machine is ad ed 'tdb'rihg thenito tl'ie desired means pos on of mesh forl'appin'g oneside'of their teeth; the Switch I86 and valves [5531161156 are an'dthe strokes "ofpistoh's I93','84, and Glare adjusted," so that" wlinset "over occurs the gears WiIYbe'brou'ght to the desired'm'eansposition of mesh for lapping the other side'of "their" teeth. Then the startbutton188 is pre's'sed momentarily resulting n; the following sequence: 'll) A"c'ircuit between lines'L1 and Lzis' established throughswitch'arni I9l of 'ratchet relay I92 I and theright winding of relay- 295, closing the right contact of the latterand'thereby establishing'a circuit-whichenergizesrelays I89 and I93. The closing of the left contact ofrelay I89 establishes ashunt around start button I88 so that release of the-latter does not aifectoperation ofthe machine: Theenergization of relay I93j causes solenoid I13 to'be energized; thereby shifting valve I5'I to the right, causing piston I I8 to move, down closing the lapping chamber doors. (2) Simultaneously with (1) controller I8! is energized starting the lapping compound pump mQt IISB, i; -(3), Also simultaneously witliillthe spin time delay; relay I95 is energized, immediately closing itscontact I99 and opening its contact I91. Closing of I9 t llfir izes door time delay relay I94, immediately opening: the latters contact in the circuit of solenoid I'M (this circuit also being o ened t this time byrela'y I93) (4) As the lappingr cha'mber doors become fully time ,delay ,r elay I95, th'e'upper' contact of limit switch 129, andwi'ridingflm of main drive motor controller IBAf (through a contact of relay I99).

The main ol'ri motorjl85is thus put into operation' The'closing' of switch I29 also closesa'cirtu from 1; to L' through the right centrist of relay I98' and the left winding of motor conreby putting the oscillating motor 53 into'operationxj Y W I 1" 1(5) Simultaneously with(4) i; e. with energig' ized with theresultthat the set over control jjalv," I54 is moved'to the right (Fig. 12) causing zatijonjoi winding" 32; the solenoid 15a is eners'et'..ove1 yfl'oweringofpiston i193; and movement tdthi' lit'bf titan-t4 and cylinder 66f"- Solenoid, I13 is con- (6) The lapping operation now proceeds with '13 ifunctioning of the control systems as described in detail in Patent 2,445,649, the oscillation motor reversing after turning the cam 49 through the desired angle in each direction.

('7) After lapping of one side of the gear teeth has been completed the relay i913 reverses, deenergizing winding I82 and energizing I83 of the motor controller I84. This causes the motor I85 to reverse so that the drive through gears P and G is on other side of their teeth.

(8) Simultaneously with (7) solenoid I58 is deenergized and solenoid I59 is energized, shifting the set over valve I54 to the left and thereby effecting movement of pistons I93 and 84, and of cylinder 66, to the respective positions shown in Fig. 12.

(9) The lapping of the other side of the teeth now proceeds, with the oscillating motor 53 reversing after turning the cam through the desired angle in each direction.

(10) As the foregoing operations take place the switch arm I9I of the ratchet relay I92 is advanced and at the conclusion of lapping is advanced to close the contact at station No. 9. This energizes the left coil of relay 295, thereby deenergizing relays I 89, I93, and I95.

(11) The de-energization of the holding relay I89 results immediately in opening of the circuit through the coil of controller I81, so that the lapping compound pump motor is stopped. The

de-energization of relay I99 results in door control solenoid I13 being de-energized immediately, but this is without immediate effect since the other door control solenoid I14 is not immediately energized. De-energization of I89 also stops oscillating motor 56.

(1 With a delay after (11) preferably long enough to allow excess lapping compound to be spun on the gears P and G, the contact I95 of relay I95 opens and contact I91 closes. Closing of I9? establishes a circuit from L1 to L2 through the now closed right contact of relay I89, left contact of relay 295 and right coil of reversing relay I 99, to thereby condition the coil I82 of motor controller for energization on the next lapping cycle. Opening of I96 de-energizes relay I94 but this has no immediate effect.

(13) Simultaneously with (12) the opening of contact I96 of relay I95 breaks the circuit (through limit switch I29) for the winding of motor controller I84, so that the main drive motor 485 is de-energized.

(14) With a delay after (13), preferably long enough to allow the gears P and G to coast to a stop, the contact of relay I94 closes, thereby establishing the circuit through solenoid I14.

Valve I! is thereupon shifted to the left, causing the piston M8 to be elevated and thereby opening the lapping chamber doors so that the now finished gears P and G may be removed.

The foregoing disclosure of the machine and its mode of operation is made by way of example to illustrate and explain the inventive principles involved, and not by way of limitation, for, as those skilled in the art will recognize, various changes and modifications may be made readily without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A machine having a pair of spindles for mounting gears for running in mesh, relatively movable housings supporting the spindles for rotation, actuating means for moving the housings relatively to each other while the gears are being rotated, means for adjusting the housings whereby for drive on one side of the gear teeth the motion of the gears effected by the actuating means may be from a mean position of mesh suitable for drive on that side of the teeth, and set over means for simultaneously shifting the housings in different directions whereby for drive on the other side of the teeth the motion of the gears eifected by the actuating means may be from another mean position of mesh.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which there is means for adjusting the strokes of the set over means independently in each of said different directions.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which said plurality of directions are three in number, one housing is supported for movement in each of the three directions, and the operating means and also the set over means act upon only said one housing.

4. A machine according to claim 2 in which said plurality of directions are three in number, one housing is supported for movement in each of the three directions, and the operating means and also the set over means act upon only said one housing.

5. A machine according to claim 2 in which the set over means comprises one piston for each of said directions and a hydraulic system for simultaneously shifting the pistons.

6. A machine according to claim 3 in which the set over means comprises one piston for each of said directions and a hydraulic system for simultaneously shifting the pistons.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which the hydraulic system includes means for individually reversing the direction of movement of at least two of the pistons relative to the direction of movement of the other piston.

8. A machine according to claim 1 in which there is a reversible means for driving one spindle to drive the other spindle by meshing engagement of the gears, whereby the drive may be on one side of the gear teeth while the rotating gears are being moved from one mean position of mesh by the actuating means, and then, upon operation of the set over means, the drive may be on the other side of the teeth while the gears are being moved from another mean position of mesh by the actuating means.

9. A machine according to claim 8 in which there is means to efiect concomitant reversing of said reversible means and operation of the set over means.

10. A machine having a pair of spindles for mounting gears for running in mesh, a frame, a pair of housings mounted on the frame and respectively supporting the spindles for rotation on horizontal axes, means supporting one housing for vertical motion and also for horizontal motion relative to the frame, actuating means for moving said housing vertically while the gears are rotating, a bracket supporting the actuating means and mounted for vertical motion relative to the frame, means for adjusting said bracket vertically relative to the frame, and means operable by and upon actuating means effected vertical motion of said housing for moving the latter horizontally, the means for moving the housing horizontally including adjustment means for varying the magnitude of the horizontal motion for a given actuating means efiected vertical motion thereof, set over means for shifting said bracket vertically between the position to which it has been adjusted and another position, another set over means for shifting said housing horizontally, and means for operating the two set over means simultaneously.

11. A machine according to claim. 10 in which the two set over means comprise pistons and said means for operating an hydraulic system that includes means for reversing the direction oi movement of one piston relative to that of the other piston.

12. A machine according to claim 10 in which there is reversible means for driving one spindle to drive the other spindle by meshing engagement of the gears, whereby the actuating means efi'ected vertical and horizontal movements of the housing may carry the gears from one mean position of mesh with the drive through them of one hand, and then, upon operation of the two set over means, the vertical and horizontal movements of 15 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 2,083,773 Burroughs June 15, 1937 2,445,649 Turner et al July 20, 194 2,541,283 Praeg Feb, 13, 1951 2,582,408

Bauer Jan. 15, 1952i 

